Kochi: Wi-Fi and 4G waves seem to have hit Kochi hard. To beat the competition, telecom operators are planning to erect 300 new mobile towers including Wi-Fi equipment in various parts of Kochi.

With majority of these coming up in residential areas, violating the structural plan for Kochi city notified by the state government in 2007, residents are up in arm. The structural plan strictly says that mobile towers can't be erected in residential areas.

Even with more and more residents protesting, none of the authorities including Kochi corporation are able to take any measures to stop erecting towers. "On Friday, police arrested 150 residents who protested against erecting mobile towers in Poonithura area. In some of the cases, the civic body has already given building permit. The local body does the same even while there is a government notification against erecting mobile towers in residential area," said V P Chandran, councillor, Poonithura division.

According to corporation authorities, confusion prevails regarding issuing permit to erect towers. "The structural plan notified by the state government is the only document we can cite against giving permit for erecting towers. Still, there is no clarity as the telecom providers bring court orders in certain cases. In some other cases, court has ordered against erecting towers in certain areas," said V K Minimol, chairperson, standing committee for health which is responsible for such issues.

For erecting the towers for Wi-Fi, cell phone providers have come up with 'innovative' method to divert the attention of residents. "In division number 45, 47 and 50, they have either constructed or tried to construct towers under the guise of installing water tanks on rooftop of houses. The machine would be put inside water tanks," said Nisha Dinesh, councillor from Ponnurunni.

According to telecom providers, a case is pending before the Kerala high court. "We are waiting for the final order which may come next week," an official with a major telecom company said.